Hope that the unexpectedly successful Iraqi elections on Jan. 30 might signal a change in the insurgent terrorism that has dogged reconstruction was dampened by a rocket attack the day before in Baghdads Green Zone that landed in part of the U.S. Embassy that houses the reconstruction efforts Project and Contracting Office (PCO). The attack killed a naval officer and a civilian official tied to rebuilding and wounded five others. Some suspect the PCO was deliberately targeted.
At ENR press time, the dead sailor was identified as U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Keith E. Taylor of Irvine, Calif., who served as contracting chief for the transportation and communication sector. He dealt with contracts for roadbuilding, water treatment plants and schools and had five weeks left on a six-month deployment. The civilian was identified as Barbara C. Heald, of Falls Church, Va., a U.S. Defense Dept. contract negotiator. Missile Kills Two U.S. Reconstruction Workers On Election Eve in Baghdad